2018 -- H 8320

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LC005892

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO SPORTS, RACING, AND ATHLETICS - SPORTS BETTING

     Introduced By: Representative Gregg Amore

     Date Introduced: June 14, 2018

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 3-7 of the General Laws entitled "Retail Licenses" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     3-7-7.8. Betting parlor license - Class B-BP.

     (a) A Class B-BP license shall be issued only to a holder of a sports gaming license or to

holders of a Class B-V license who have entered into a partnership or licensing agreement with a

holder of a sports gaming license, or a licensing agreement with the Rhode Island lottery to offer

sports betting using their platform. A Class B­BP license shall not be required of anyone holding

a Class B-C license.

     (b) The license authorizes the holder to keep for sale and sell beverages, including beer in

cans, at retail at the place described and to deliver them for consumption on the premises or place

where sold. It also authorizes the charging of an admission to events at the gaming and

entertainment facility.

     (c) The license authorizes the holder to sell and serve alcoholic beverages between the

hours of six o'clock (6:00) a.m. and two o'clock (2:00) a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and nights

before federal and state legally recognized holidays. The fee for a Class B-BP license shall be two

thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).

     (d) The applicant for a Class B-BP license shall submit the following to its host

municipality:

     (1) The applicant holds a valid and enforceable Class B-V license that is in good standing

or, in the case of a new business, meets the criteria necessary to hold a Class B-V license.

     (2) The applicant possesses a gaming license or its application for a license has been

conditionally approved by the department.

     (e) In the event that the host municipality grants a Class B-BP license, the licensee shall

exchange its existing Class B-V license for the Class B-BP license.

     (f) Upon receipt of the proper permits from the local licensing board, holders of Class B-

BP licenses are permitted to have dances, entertainment, and food service within the licensed

premises to be conducted during the hours permitted for sale and service of alcoholic beverages.

     (g) Notwithstanding any provisions in the department of business regulation liquor

control administration regulations, rule 18, it shall be lawful for the holder of a Class B-BP

license to permit the consumption of alcoholic beverages at any time as long as the subject

alcoholic beverage was purchased during legal service hours.

     (h) To the extent that there is no conflict with the provisions of § 3-7-7.8, the provisions

of § 3-7- 7 shall apply to a holder of a Class B-BP license.

     SECTION 2. Title 41 of the General Laws entitled "SPORTS, RACING, AND

ATHLETICS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 12

SPORTS BETTING

     41-12-1. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings.

     (1) "Account holder" means a person having money held in account for the purpose of

making wagers and having its cost deducted and any winnings deposited.

     (2) "Agent" means a person engaged by a licensed operator or an applicant for a license,

for the purposes of representing their interests before administrative agencies or boards, judicial

courts of the state, or any lobbying activities.

     (3) "Annual gross gambling yield" (AGGY) means the total of all money paid to the

licensee as bets minus the amount paid out for winning wagers over a one year period determined

by the department of business regulation.

     (4) "Authorized site" means an Internet site operated by a licensed operator for the

purpose of offering contests authorized by this chapter.

     (5) "Bet" or "wager" means to risk money on the unknown result of an event with the

hope of making more money.

     (6) "Betting" means making or accepting a bet on: the outcome of a race, competition or

other event or process; the likelihood of anything occurring or not occurring: or whether anything

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is or is not true, and includes pool betting.

     (7) "Betting parlor" means and includes any physical location, licensed by the state, to

accept wagers placed on sporting or other events.

     (8) "Betting service" means a service for the placing, making, receiving or acceptance of

bets and may include the services of a betting exchange (as well as direct service providers).

     (9) "Bond" means a bond or other writing held in escrow for the purpose of maintaining

adequate reserves to account for losses suffered by the licensees and owed to persons covered by

this chapter.

     (10) "Cheating" means improving the chances of winning or of altering the outcome by

deception, interference or manipulation of a game or of any equipment (including software

pertaining to or used in relation to the equipment), used for or in connection with the game or

event on which bets are placed or are invited, and includes attempts and conspiracy to cheat.

     (11) "Director" means the director of the department of business regulation.

     (12) "Department" means the department of business regulation.

     (13) "Electronic means" means the use of the Internet or other method of transmitting

information not in person.

     (14) "Employee" means all traditional and non-traditional employees including

independent contractors performing work or other tasks at the direction or on behalf of the

principals or key employees in the furtherance of their business interests in this chapter.

     (15) "Entity" means any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation having or

applying for a license to operate or offer contests authorized by this chapter.

     (16) "Event" means any real-word sporting event or other occurrence whose result is

unknown and is used as the basis for making a wager under this chapter.

     (17) "Fixed odds betting" means bets made at pre-determined odds or spread whereby the

return to the player will be unaffected by any later fluctuation in odds.

     (18) "Future bet" means a wager made on the occurrence of an event in the future, for the

purposes of this chapter future bets also include any wager involving a field of choices that is not

part of a pari-mutuel or pool bet.

     (19) "Gaming service" means any service that is required for or comprises any

component of the activities of gaming and may be provided by an intermediary.

     (20) ''Host" means an entity licensed and operating an authorized site.

     (21) "Key employee" means a person having the authority to act on behalf of: a licensed

operator; or any person, firms, partnerships, associations, or corporations in the process of

applying for a license authorized by this chapter and whose judgment is being relied on to

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manage and advance the business operations. A principal may be a key employee if the

circumstances so warrant.

     (22) "License" means a grant by the state to offer the opportunity to accept wagers on

events not prohibited by law.

     (23) "Licensee" or "licensed operator" means any person, firm, partnership, association or

corporation licensed and authorized to accept wagers under the provisions of this chapter.

     (24) "Live betting" means and refers to a type of wager that is placed after the event

being wagered on has commenced and whose odds on events occurring are adjusted in real time.

Live betting does not include wagers made between quarters, halves or periods of games where

the outcome of the event being wagered on is related only to the quarter, half or period that has

not yet commenced.

     (25) "Money line" means the fixed odds in relation to a dollar amount that a team or

person will win outright, regardless of the spread.

     (26) "Minor" means an individual who is less than eighteen (18) years old.

     (27) "Occupational license" means a licensing requirement deemed necessary by the

department to protect consumers or residents of the state or otherwise affects the faith and

trustworthiness of the wagers being offered under this chapter.

     (28) ''Pari-mutuel betting" or "pool betting" means a type of bet in which all wagers on a

particular occurrence are pooled and winnings are paid in accordance with the size of the pool

and the number of winners.

     (29) "Parlay bet" means a single bet that links together two (2) or more individual wagers

in which winnings accruing from each transaction are used as a stake for a further bet and is

dependent on all of those wagers winning together.

     (30) "Principal" means any person having more than five percent (5%) ownership interest

in, or any officer of an entity licensed or applying for a license to offer contests authorized under

this chapter.

     (31) "Proposition bet" means a wager made regarding the occurrence or non-occurrence

during a game or event not affecting the event's final outcome.

     (32) "Real-world sporting event" means a scheduled sporting event whose outcome is

unknown and is determined by events or occurrences of persons who physically competed in the

event and is the basis of a wager under this chapter.

     (33) "Real-world team" means a team that competes in scheduled sporting events against

other teams and whose roster or members are readily identifiable by the public.

     (34) "Record" means a document, or an object, in any form (including any electronic

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form) that is, has been or ought to have been, kept by reason of: any information or matter that it

contains or that can be obtained from it; or its connection with any event, person, circumstance or

thing.

     (35) "Regulated worker" means any person working or contracted on behalf of the

licensee, who the state has determined must pass a background check and be licensed.

      (36) "Remote communication" means communication using: the Internet, telephone,

television, radio, or any other kind of electronic or other technology for facilitating

communication.

     (37) "Remote gambling" means gambling in which persons participate by the use of

remote communication.

     (38) "Resident" means, for the purposes of this chapter, a person who primarily resides in

the state, a student attending a school of higher or lower education in the state who has a

substantial connection to the state, or for the purposes of gaming under this chapter any person

located within the boundaries of the state at the time they place a wager as described in this

chapter.

     (39) "Self-exclusion" means the process that allows a person to voluntarily request that

they not be allowed at a place that allows gambling or to otherwise be allowed to place a wager in

person or remotely.

     (40) "Spread betting" is a form of gambling in which stakes are placed not on the results

of contests but on the difference in the number of points scored between persons or teams.

Winnings and losses are calculated according to the accuracy or inaccuracy of the prediction.

     (41) "Straight bet" means a singular wager using a point spread to determine the winner

of an event between two (2) persons or teams.

     (42) "Transaction" means and includes both the initial cost of placing a wager and any

winnings resulting from a wager.

     (43) "Vendors" mean and includes all contractors, subcontractors, independent

contractors and other non-traditional employees hired or contracted by the licensee for the

purpose of furthering their business.

     (44) "Wager" or "bet" means to risk money on the unknown result of an event with the

hope of making more money.

     41-12-2. Certain activities permitted.

     (a) Within the department of business regulation there shall be a division of sports

betting. The division shall supervise the enforcement of all laws relating to the regulation and

control of sports betting. The division shall exercise all powers and duties prescribed by this

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chapter and all other acts relative to the licensing and regulation of sports betting, including, but

not limited to, promulgating those rules and regulations it deems necessary to protect the integrity

of the activities prescribed in this chapter.

     (b) The department of business regulation may permit a holder of a sports betting license

to offer and accept wagers within and without this state; provided, that those licensees without a

physical presence in the state and accepting wagers remotely from residents or persons located

within the state at the time the wager was placed agree to be subject to the jurisdiction of the state

as provided for in this chapter.

     41-12-3. Licenses issued by department of business regulation.

     (a) The right, power, and jurisdiction to issue sports betting licenses are vested solely in

the department of business regulation; provided, that before the department issues any license for

a betting parlor, it shall first receive the approval of the licensing authority of the town or city in

which the premises covered by the license are located; and, provided further, that the number of

licenses for betting parlors in the state shall be limited to nine (9) of which:

     (1) One license is available to each of the five (5) counties;

     (2) One license is to be provided to any casino licensed and in operation in the state

before November 6, 2018;

     (3) Additional licenses are to be made available to any of the counties for each additional

one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) inhabitants as determined by the latest census taken

under the authority of the United States or of this state; and

     (4) No more than one license per city or town.

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or any general or special law to the

contrary, no city or town shall restrict the holder of an operational betting license from areas

already zoned for the size and type of business that may be proposed.

     41-12-4. Licenses - types.

     Notwithstanding gambling facilities licensed by the state before November 6, 2018, the

department of business regulation shall establish a number of license classifications it deems

necessary to effect the purposes of this chapter. Such classification of licenses for sports betting

shall include, but not be limited to:

     (1) An operational betting license regulating the wagering activities offered within and

without the state by remote means and the ancillary operations supporting such business

including, but not limited to, customer service, computer operators, technical help and

supervisory staff;

     (2) A remote betting license regulating wagering activities offered to residents of the state

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and those persons physically located within the state's boundaries at the time they place their

wagers by telephonic and other electronic means;

     (3) A betting parlor license regulating operations offering wagering activities, with a

physical presence in the state approved by the hosting community and licensed to sell alcoholic

beverages and further classified by:

     (i) Those entities that have an ownership interest in both the licensed premises and the

sports betting license;

     (ii) Those entities that have an ownership interest in the licensed premises and are in

partnership with the holder of the sports betting license;

     (iii) Those entities that have an ownership interest in the licensed premises and have

licensing agreements in place to use the platform provided by the holder of the sports license; and

     (iv) Those entities that have an ownership interest in the licensed premises and have a

licensing agreement in place with the Rhode Island lottery;

      (4) A betting premises' license regulating operations offering wagering activities

governed by this chapter, with a physical presence in the state approved by the hosting

community and with no license to sell alcoholic beverages.

     41-12-5. Licenses - fees.

     Notwithstanding any gambling facility licensed by the state before November 6, 2018,

the department of business regulation shall establish fees for each classification of license granted

for sports betting as provided for in § 41-12-4.

     (1) Operational betting license. There is hereby established a yearly licensing fee for the

holders of operational betting licenses based on the licensees' annual gross gambling yield

(AGGY) on remote wagers regulated by this chapter in the previous year and does not include

any wagers placed at a physical location in which the operator may have an additional business

interest.

     (i) If AGGY is: The annual licensing fee is:

     Less than $10,000,000 $50,000

     More than $10,000,000 $100,000

     but less than $50,000,000

     More than $50,000,000 $150,000

     but less than $100,000,000

     More than $100,000,000 $250,000

     but less than $250,000,000

     More than $250,000,000 $500,000

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     (ii) Upon the issuance of an operational betting license, the licensee shall pay one

hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) towards the first year's annual fee with a remainder due after

an accounting of the annual gross gambling yield and based upon the fee structure provided for in

this section.

     (iii) The licensing fee established in this subsection is in addition to any other fee

established by this or any other chapter.

     (2) Remote betting license. There is hereby established a yearly licensing fee for the

holders of remote operating licenses based on the licensees' annual gross gambling yield (AGGY)

on remote wagers regulated by this chapter in the previous year and does not include any wagers

placed at a physical location in which the operator may have an additional business interest.

     (i) If AGGY is: The annual licensing fee is:

     Less than $1,000,000 $20,000

     More than $1,000,000 $50,000

     but less than $5,000,000

      More than $5,000,000 $75,000

     but less than $15,000,000

     More than $15,000,000 $150,000

     but less than $50,000,000

     More than $50,000,000 $200,000

     (ii) Upon the issuance of a remote operating license, the licensee shall pay forty thousand

dollars ($40,000) towards the first year's annual fee with a remainder due after an accounting of

the annual gross gambling yield and based upon the fee structure provided for in this section.

     (iii) The licensing fee established in this subsection is in addition to any other fee

established by this or any other chapter.

     (3) Betting parlor license. There is hereby established a yearly licensing fee for the

holders of a license to operate a betting parlor based on the annual gross gambling yield (AGGY)

of wagers regulated by this chapter in the previous year and placed at the physical location of the

licensee.

     (i) If AGGY is: The annual licensing fee is:

     Less than $1,000,000 $2,500

     More than $1,000,000 $10,000

     but less than $5,000,000

     More than $5,000,000 $20,000

      (ii) Upon the issuance of a betting parlor license, the licensee shall pay five thousand

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dollars ($5,000) towards the first year's annual fee with a remainder due after an accounting of the

annual gross gambling yield and based upon the fee structure provided for in this section.

     (iii) The licensing fee established in this subsection shall be shared equally between the

state and the hosting community and is in addition to any other fee established by this or any

other chapter.

     (iv) Notwithstanding the holding of any other gaming license by the holder of a license to

operate a betting parlor and regardless if the account was set up at the physical location where

this fee is being applied, the calculation of the annual gross gambling yield used to establish the

licensing fee does not include wagers placed remotely.

     (4) Betting premises license. There is hereby established a yearly licensing fee for the

holders of a license to operate a betting parlor premises on the annual gross gambling yield

(AGGY) of wagers regulated by this chapter in the previous year and placed at the physical

location of the licensee.

     (i) If AGGY is: The annual licensing fee is:

     Less than $1,000,000 $2,500

     More than $1,000,000 $10,000

     but less than $5,000,000

     More than $5,000,000 $20,000

     (ii) Upon the issuance of a betting premises license, the licensee shall pay five thousand

dollars ($5,000) towards the first year's annual fee with a remainder due after an accounting of the

annual gross gambling yield and based upon the fee structure provided for in this section.

     (iii) The licensing fee established in this subsection shall be shared equally between the

state and the hosting community and is in addition to any other fee established by this or any

other chapter.

     (iv) Notwithstanding the holding of any other gaming license by the holder of a license to

operate a betting premises and regardless if the account was set up at the physical location where

this fee is being applied, the calculation of the annual gross gambling yield used to establish the

licensing fee does not include wagers placed remotely.

     41-12-6. Restrictions and penalties.

     (a) Any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation that accepts wagers as

described by this chapter and is not licensed by the department or otherwise licensed by another

state, territory or country, shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each transaction arising

out of contacts with persons physically located in Rhode Island at the time of the transaction and

the matter shall be referred to the office of the attorney general.

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     (b)(1) Any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation that accepts wagers as

described by this chapter and is not licensed by the department, but is otherwise licensed by

another state, territory or country, shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each

transaction arising out of contacts with persons physically located in Rhode Island at the time of

the transaction and be required to become licensed under the provisions of this chapter or have

the matter referred to the office of attorney general.

     (c) In any prosecution under the laws of this state, it shall be an irrebutable presumption

that any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation accepting wagers authorized by this

chapter without the proper licensing knowingly participated in gambling activities.

     41-12-7. Licensees - qualifications.

     (a) No license shall be issued, granted, renewed, or transferred to any trust or trustee or to

any corporation of which any share or shares of stock or other indicia of ownership or control are

owned or held by any trust, or trustee, business organization, or other entity or person other than a

natural person or corporation authorized by the secretary of state to transact business in this state

and with a physical presence in the United States.

     (b) No persons, firms, partnerships, associations, or corporations having an ownership

interest or is otherwise responsible as the governing body of a team, league or otherwise having a

business or personal connection to the outcome of the events being wagered on may be licensed

or have an interest in a business operation provided for in this chapter.

     (c) All those corporations holding a sports betting license shall report to the department

the name of any newly elected officer or director and the acquisition by any person of more than

ten percent (10%) of any class of corporate stock, within thirty (30) days after the election or

acquisition. Thereupon, the department or director may call a hearing, at its discretion, to

determine whether the new officer, director or stockholder is a suitable person under this section

and the board, body or official may revoke or suspend the license if the new officer or director or

stockholder is not a suitable person to hold a license.

     (d) No person shall acquire fifty percent (50%) or more of any class of the stock of any

corporation licensed under this section, except corporations having more than twenty-five (25)

stockholders, unless permission for the acquisition is first given by the department. Application

for permission to acquire stock is subject to the provisions of § 41-12-16 relating to the transfer of

a license to another person except that it shall not be necessary that a new bond be given. Unless

the department determines that the person seeking permission to acquire fifty percent (50%) or

more of the corporation's stock is a suitable person to hold a license, permission shall not be

given.

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     (e) The sports betting license of a corporation is subject to suspension or revocation for

failure to comply with any of the provisions of this section or for any fraud or misrepresentation

in connection with the license.

     41-12-8. Escrow account.

     (a) The department shall determine an appropriate amount and require that before a

license is granted that each licensee place a bond in escrow to ensure that there exists adequate

reserves to pay off persons covered by this chapter.

     (b) After each year's accounting, the department may determine that additional amounts

be placed in escrow to support the reserves.

     (c) The licensee may maintain the bond at any financial institution licensed and regulated

by the state and shall be the beneficiary of any interest earned thereunder.

     (d) In any dissolution, the monies owed to account holders covered by this chapter shall

be paid out of the escrow account before any taxes or fees owed to the state.

     41-12-9. Licensing - application.

     (a) All persons, firms, partnerships, associations, or corporations desiring to operate any

gaming business authorized by this chapter, shall submit an application for a license to the

department of business regulation on such forms and in such a manner as prescribed by

regulations of the department, and along with a processing fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000)

provide and include:

     (1) A list of all of the entity's principals, and for each principal:

     (i) A national criminal records check initiated through the bureau of criminal

identification of the department of the attorney general;

     (ii) Information as to financial standing; and

      (iii) All releases and authorizations necessary to facilitate the purpose of this subsection

signed by the individual.

     (2) A list of all the entity's key employees, and for those key employees:

     (i) A national criminal records check initiated through the bureau of criminal

identification of the department of the attorney general that shall include fingerprints submitted to

the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI);

     (ii) Information as to financial standing; and

     (iii) All releases and authorizations necessary to facilitate the purpose of this subsection

signed by the individual.

     (3) A list of all persons, corporations or other businesses providing any financing to the

applicant and any interest, whether direct or indirect, by any other person, firm or corporation in

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the license applied for;

     (4) A list of all vendors whose work for or contract with the licensee may affect the

public's trust in the granting of a license authorized under this chapter;

     (5) A list of all vendors whose work for, or contract with the licensee may allow them

access to the private information of participants;

     (6) The names of vendors, agents and subcontractors performing work or other activities

on the entity's behalf in furtherance of operations with connections to the state or as part of its

application for a license; and

     (7) Any additional information from the principals and key employees the department

deems will aid in its decision making process as to their: moral character; previous employment;

corporate, partnership or association affiliations; ownership of personal assets; and such other

information necessary to protect the interests of the state and consumers. The department shall

have the right to reject any applications for a license to operate games under this chapter for any

cause, which it may deem sufficient. Applicants aggrieved by a decision or order of the

department shall have the right to an appeal to the department of business regulation pursuant to

chapter 35 of title 42 (the administrative procedures act).

     (b) Every applicant and licensee has a continuous obligation to update and forward to the

department information required by subsection (a) of this section as it becomes known to them.

     (c) An entity that knowingly fails to self-report its failure to provide an accurate list as

required by subsection (a) of this section, or update its information as required by subsection (b)

of this section shall have its license application denied.

     (d) The department shall reject any application for a license under this chapter if any of

the principals or key employees listed in the application are found to have disqualifying

information as provided for in § 42-12-12. The department shall refuse to reconsider the entity's

application until such time that the department is satisfied that the person whom was disqualified

under § 42-12-12 is no longer a principal or key employee of the entity.

     (e) Final action on an application before the department shall not be taken until such time

as the names and addresses of the principals have been made public and a public hearing

scheduled.

     (f) Only persons, firms, partnerships, associations, or corporations whose application has

been approved under this section, may contact a community or property owner or otherwise

negotiate, solicit or contract for any business opportunities related to a sports betting license.

     (g) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this section, no approval of an application

by the department shall guarantee the granting of a license.

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     41-12-10. Licensing of employees.

     (a) The department shall establish by regulations occupational licensing requirements for

positions it determines may provide employees access to private information provided by bettors

or account holders, and any other such persons it determines may affect consumer confidence in

the licensee.

     (b) Any person required to possess an occupational license as provided for in this section

shall submit to a national criminal records check initiated through the bureau of criminal

identification of the department of the attorney general that shall include fingerprints submitted to

the FBI and be subject to the provisions of § 42-12-12.

     (c) The cost of the licensing requirements of this section shall be paid by the entity, and

shall include one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the total salaries and benefits for the state

employees engaged in the licensing and regulating of the games authorized by this chapter. The

funds shall be deposited as restricted receipts for the use of the state and shall be in addition to

any taxes and fees otherwise payable to the state.

     (d) All employees regulated under this section shall, upon obtaining the license, maintain

upon their person while working an identification badge containing a unique identification

number, issued or authorized by the department of business regulation under rules and regulations

promulgated by the department.

     (e) For employees of the entity there shall be a license fee paid yearly as set forth below:

     (1) Key employees - three hundred dollars ($300);

     (2) Supervisory or exempt employees - two hundred dollars ($200);

     (3) Operation employees who have access to private or personal information - one

hundred fifty dollars ($150); and

     (4) Service employees or customer service representatives who have contact with

participants, but do not have access to private or personal information, one hundred dollars

($100).

     41-12-11. Licensing of software companies, independent contractors and employees.

     (a) All persons, firms, associations, or corporations employed or contracted by a licensee

under this chapter in providing computer and software services involving online wagering and

security, shall apply for a license to the department of business regulation upon such forms and in

such manner prescribed by regulations of the department, and along with a processing fee of two

thousand dollars ($2,000), provide and include:

     (1) A list of all of the entity's principals, and for each principal:

     (i) A national criminal records check initiated through the bureau of criminal

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identification of the department of the attorney general;

     (ii) Information as to financial standing; and

     (iii) All releases and authorizations necessary to facilitate the purposes of this subsection

signed by the individual.

     (b) All traditional and non-traditional employees working on projects or materials

contracted by the licensee in subsection (a) of this section who may have access to private

information provided by account holders shall be licensed by the department on forms prescribed

by regulations of the department. Any person required to possess an occupational license as

provided for in this subsection shall submit to a national criminal records check initiated through

the bureau of criminal identification of the department of the attorney general that shall include

fingerprints submitted to the FBI and be subject to the provisions of § 42-12-12.

     (c) For all persons, firms, associations, or corporations employed or contracted by a

licensed operator and who are not already licensed under § 42-12-5 there shall be a license fee

paid yearly as set forth below:

     (1) Software development companies - one thousand dollars ($1,000);

     (2) Software engineers or independent contractors - three hundred dollars ($300); and

     (3) Computer operators and technicians - one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

     (d) All individual applicants for licensing under this section shall be fingerprinted, and,

upon obtaining the license, shall maintain upon their person while working an identification

badge containing a unique identification number, issued or authorized by the department.

     41-12-12. Criminal checks – disqualifying information.

     (a) Any person required to submit to a criminal background check as provided for in §§

41-12-9 and 41-12-10 shall be disqualified from obtaining the necessary licensure if information

produced by a national criminal records check finds the applicant was convicted of any of the

following crimes:

     (1) Murder;

     (2) Voluntary manslaughter;

     (3) Involuntary manslaughter;

     (4) First-degree sexual assault;

     (5) Second-degree sexual assault;

     (6) Third-degree sexual assault;

     (7) Assault on persons sixty (60) years of age or older;

     (8) Assault with intent to commit specified felonies (murder, robbery, rape, burglary, or

the abominable and detestable crime against nature);

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     (9) Felony assault;

     (10) First-degree arson;

     (11) Robbery;

     (12) Felony drug offenses;

     (13) Felony obtaining money under false pretenses;

     (14) Felony embezzlement, abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation of adults with severe

impairments;

     (15) Exploitation of elders;

     (16) Felony larceny;

     (17) Felony banking law violations; or

     (18) A crime involving gambling activities or fraud.

     (b) Information produced by a national criminal records check pertaining to convictions

for crimes other than those listed in subsection (a) of this section shall entitle the department to

decline to license to the applicant if the department makes a good faith determination based on

the information it has that the applicant would pose a risk that might affect the public's faith in the

operation, or the private information of the participants.

     (c) For purposes of this section, "conviction" means, in addition to judgments of

conviction entered by a court subsequent to a finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, those instances

where the defendant has entered a plea of nolo contendere and has received a sentence of

probation and those instances where a defendant has entered into a deferred sentence agreement

with the attorney general.

     (d) Persons licensed under this chapter shall have a continuous duty to inform the

department and their employer of any change of status to any information that may disqualify

them from being licensed.

     (e) At the conclusion of any background check required by this chapter, the state police

or the local police department will promptly destroy the fingerprint card of the applicant.

     41-12-13. Duty to maintain employee and other records.

     (a) Each licensed operator shall keep a list of all persons licensed under this chapter

whom they employ, hire, or contract with, at their physical office, any place where records

subject to inspection under this chapter are kept, and at the physical location of any building or

office where those persons licensed normally work.

     (b) Each list required under this section shall include the full name, license number and

expiration date of the license as well as any other information the department deems appropriate.

     (c) As part of its responsibility to maintain records each entity shall have and keep on a

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form provided by the department a statement attested to by each person holding a license that in

the period since their background check they have not been convicted of a crime provided for in §

41-12-12.

     41-12-14. License suspension and revocation - violations.

     (a) The department may suspend or revoke the license of any entity offering odds and

accepting wagers under this chapter for a singular or cumulative violation of the provisions of this

chapter, if the department in its judgment determines that these violation(s) indicate a lack of

trustworthiness on the part of the licensee or may otherwise negatively affect the people of the

state.

     (b) Licensees aggrieved by a decision or order of the department under this section shall

have the right to an appeal pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42 (the administrative procedures act).

     41-12-15. Revocation of license - convictions.

     (a) If any licensed person or principal is subsequently convicted of any of the following

crimes: murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, first-degree sexual assault,

second-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault, assault on persons sixty (60) years of

age or older, assault with intent to commit specified felonies (murder, robbery, rape, burglary, or

the abominable and detestable crime against nature), felony assault, first-degree arson, robbery,

felony drug offenses, felony obtaining money under false pretenses, felony embezzlement, abuse,

neglect, and/or exploitation of adults with severe impairments, exploitation of elders, felony

larceny, felony banking law violations, or a crime involving gambling activities or fraud, their

license shall be revoked and their interest transferred.

     (b) For purposes of this section, "conviction" means, in addition to judgments of

conviction entered by a court subsequent to a finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, those instances

where the defendant has entered a plea of nolo contendere and has received a sentence of

probation and those instances where a defendant has entered into a deferred sentence agreement

with the attorney general.

     41-12-16. Transfer of license.

     (a) The department shall permit the license to be transferred among persons holding an

interest in the same license without restriction; provided, that if the license is intended to be

transferred to persons or entity without an existing interest in the license, the department shall,

before permitting the transfer, give notice of the application for the transfer in the same manner as

is provided in this chapter in the case of original application for the license, and a new bond shall

be given upon the issuance of the license.

     (b) In all cases of transfer of license, indebtedness of the licensee incurred in the

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operation of the licensed premises shall be paid to or released by an objecting creditor before the

issuing body permits the transfer. In cases of dispute as to the amount of indebtedness, the issuing

body, may, in its discretion, permit the transfer upon statement of the licensee, under oath, that

the claim of indebtedness is disputed and that the statement of dispute is not interposed for the

purpose of inducing transfer of the license. No creditor is allowed to object to the transfer of a

license by a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, assignee for the benefit of creditors, executor,

administrator, and guardian or by any public officer under judicial process. In case of the death of

any licensee, the license becomes part of the personal estate of the deceased, but interest in the

license shall not pass except as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

     (c) The transfer of a license is contingent upon the full payment of any outstanding debt

owed the state or municipality.

     (d) The transferee of a license assumes all penalties that the license board has imposed

upon the transferor of the license.

     41-12-17. Prohibition against assignment or leasing of license.

     (a) The holder of a license issued pursuant to this title shall not assign, rent, lease or let

the license without the approval of the department but may transfer their interest only as provided

in § 14-12-16(a).

     41-12-18. Licensing agreements.

     Notwithstanding the prohibitions set forth in § 41-12-17, the department shall promulgate

those rules and regulations necessary to allow persons or entities whose application has been

approved or is already licensed under this chapter to form a partnership or otherwise enter into a

licensing agreement for the purpose of furthering their business.

     41-12-19. Online wagering.

     (a) Before any resident of the state opens an account with a licensed operator and places a

wager online, they must attest that they are eighteen (18) years of age or older and that their name

does not appear on any self-exclusion list.

     (1) Nothing within this section shall restrict the licensee from taking any legal measures it

deems necessary to ensure that all participants are the legal age, including, but not limited to,

requiring that participants to provide the licensee a signed and notarized document attesting to

their age.

     (2) For the purposes of this section, any minor who attests to being of proper age or any

other person who signs in place of a notary for the purpose of proving eligibility to playing a

game under this chapter shall be guilty of filing a false document pursuant to § 11-18-1.

     (b) Each person desiring to open an account for the purpose of placing a wager online, by

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telephonic or other electronic means shall provide to the licensee:

     (1) A physical address not a post office box;

     (2) A phone number;

     (3) A unique user name;

     (4) A bank account, in their own name, and routing number to transact with;

     (5) Social security number; and

     (6) An active email account.

     (c) Persons are limited to one account and one unique user name for each authorized site

they join. Licensees shall take all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure that participants only

have one account.

     41-12-20. Protection of private information.

     (a) The licensee shall, in addition to any requirement of federal or state law on data

security, take all other additional steps necessary to protect the private information of its players

as is the standard in the industry.

     (b) The licensee shall maintain an adequate level of insurance as determined by the

department to protect against any harm caused by the release of any account holder's private

information.

     41-12-21. Funds on account.

     (a) The funding of an account shall be limited to cash transactions. For the purpose of this

chapter, cash transaction means and includes:

      (1) Cash, deposited at a physical location of the licensee;

     (2) Electronic bank transfer (EBT) of funds;

     (3) Western Union or other telegraphic transfer requiring cash to initiate the transaction;

and

     (4) Any other method approved by rule or regulation by the department that can be

funded only by cash and not by credit.

     (b) Monies or credits deposited or owed to a player remain the property of the player until

such time their value is withdrawn in part or in whole by check or electronic transfer, or any

portion thereof is deducted from the account as part of a separate and distinct wager.

     (c) It is the responsibility of the licensee who holds these funds in trust, to ensure that all

appropriate safeguards and accounting measures are in place to:

     (1) Prevent co-mingling of an account holder's monies or credits with the funds or

accounts of the licensee or other account holders; and

     (2) Prevent unauthorized withdrawals from within and without the operations.

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     41-12-22. Prohibition on extension of credit.

     No licensee, not already in operation before November 6, 2018, shall offer or accept the

extension of credit to a bettor or account holder who is a resident of the state or is physically

located within its boundaries.

     41-12-23. Transaction - records.

     For every deposit or withdrawal made to an account, or transaction between the host and

account holder, the host shall confirm such activity by email or other means agreed to by the

account holder.

     41-12-24. Wagers - prohibited.

     Sports wagering shall be prohibited in connection with any collegiate sports or athletic

event that takes place in Rhode Island or a sports contest or athletic event in which any Rhode

Island college team participates, regardless of where the event takes place.

     41-12-25. Wagers – persons prohibited.

     (a) No person participating actively or having the ability to affect the outcome of the real-

world sporting event shall be allowed to place a wager on the outcome of that event.

     (b) Any licensee who knowingly accepts a wager from a person prohibited from

wagering on an event as described in subsection (a) of this section, shall have their license

revoked after a hearing held in accordance with chapter 35 of title 42 (the administrative

procedures act).

     41-12-26. Minors prohibited.

     (a) No minor shall be allowed entrance to that part of a licensed facility where the

offering of odds and wagering occur.

     (b) No licensee shall knowingly or negligently permit any minor to wager on an event

authorized by this chapter.

     (c) It shall not be an absolute defense that a minor self-reported as being over eighteen

(18) years of age for the purpose of opening an account and wagering by telephonic or other

electronic means under this chapter.

     (d)(1) Upon notification by a parent or guardian that their minor child has a registered

account, the licensee shall return immediately to the parent or guardian the amount presently in

the account that combined with withdrawals already made does not exceed the total amount of

deposits made by the minor.

     (2) After a hearing is held in accordance with chapter 35 of title 42 (the administrative

procedures act), the department may, if it determines the licensee did not take adequate steps to

prove the identity of a minor, direct the licensee to return to the parents or guardian all the

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deposits made by the minor along with the remainder of the account.

     41-12-27. Odds - fixed.

     (a) Unless a wager is part of a pari-mutuel or other type of pool betting, the odds offered

and the amount to be paid on the result of an event or series of events shall be fixed and certain

and made available in advance of a wager being placed in clear and concise language.

     (b) Upon the placing of a wager, unless the wager is part of a pari-mutuel pool, the bettor

shall be provided with a ticket or other record approved by the department confirming the wager

and describing the amount risked and the amount to be paid for correctly wagering on the result

of an event or series of events.

     41-12-28. Wagers - generally.

     Notwithstanding wagers prohibited by §§ 41-12-25 or 41-12-26 or otherwise procured by

unlawful means or through cheating, each wager shall be treated as an enforceable contract.

     41-12-29. Wagers - types.

     The department of business regulation is authorized by rule or regulation to determine the

type of wagers that shall not be offered under this chapter because they are against public policy

or are otherwise unfair to consumers.

     (1) If the department has a good faith basis for determining that a wager being offered

under this chapter is against public policy or is unfair to consumers but is not prohibited by rule

or regulation, it may enjoin the licensee from offering such wager until a hearing is held, as soon

as practicable, before the department.

     (2) Licensees aggrieved by a decision or order of the department under this section shall

have the right to an appeal pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42 (the administrative procedures act).

     41-12-30. Transaction fees.

     Each licensee offering odds and accepting wagers under this chapter shall pay to the

state, and there is hereby imposed a transaction fee computed at one percent (1%) of the total

money exchanged, whether that exchange occurs as part of the wager or as payment for selecting

the correct outcome of events. For the purpose of this section, "transaction" does not include

depositing or withdrawing funds from an account used to wager.

     41-12-31. Taxes.

     Any winning payments made to residents or persons who were physically located in the

state at the time the wager was placed shall be taxed at a rate determined by the type of wager

made.

     Type of wagers Tax on winning wager

     For straight spread bets One percent (1%)

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     made on the occurrence of a singular

     event between two (2) persons or teams.

     For money line or fixed odds bets Three percent (3%)

     made on the occurrence of a singular

     event between two (2) persons or teams.

      For live betting. Five percent (5%)

     For future bets Fifteen percent (15%)

     For parlays of spread or money-line bets Fifteen percent (15%)

     For proposition bets. Fifteen percent (15%)

     41-12-32. Accounting system - supervision.

     The department shall devise a system of accounting to provide for all transactions

involving wagers covered by this chapter and shall have the right of inspection in a manner to

ensure that the rights of the state are protected, and shall collect all fees and licenses under such

rules and regulations as it shall prescribe.

     41-12-33. Entry of premises for inspection.

     The department may authorize its employees or duly authorized deputies to enter upon

the premises of any facility, within or without the state, utilized by the licensee to operate

activities covered by this chapter, for the purpose of inspecting books and records kept as

required by the chapter, or to make any other inspection of the premises necessary to protect the

interests of the state and its consumers.

     41-12-34. Payments to the state.

     Each licensee shall pay quarterly to the state, for deposit in the general fund, all

transaction fees and taxes withheld by it in the previous quarter.

     41-12-35. Collection of taxes – interest on delinquencies – failure to pay on demand.

     The tax administrator shall assess and collect the taxes and fees imposed by this chapter

under such rules and regulations as the administrator may prescribe. All taxes and fees hereby

imposed shall be due and payable at the time required by this section. Any tax or fee not paid

upon demand of the tax administrator shall bear interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum

from the time of the demand. Failure to pay any tax or fee upon demand shall be cause for

revocation of a license.

     41-12-36. Obstruction.

     Any person who hinders or obstructs an officer or agent of the state from entering any

place mentioned in this chapter is, upon conviction, guilty of obstructing an officer and liable to

the penalty imposed in § 11-32-1.

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     41-12-37. Advertising - prohibited.

     (a) No licensee shall directly or indirectly advertise or promote activities offered or

authorized by this chapter towards minors. Such prohibitions shall extend to all: public or private

schools of higher or lower education, amateur, school or college sporting venues or other places

where a significant number of the guests or audience members will be minors.

     (b) The department shall investigate on its own or by complaint any advertising that a

reasonable person would believe is targeted towards minors. If the department determines that the

advertising is being targeted towards minors in violation of this section, it shall require that the

advertising stop or be removed.

     (c) An entity wishing to challenge a restriction placed on its advertising may request a

hearing on the matter pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42 (the administrative procedures act).

     (d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any organization, public or private, from

determining on their own to refuse or restrict advertisements offered by licensees on their

premises or within their control.

     41-12-38. Jurisdiction.

     (a) Notwithstanding the physical location of the licensee, for the purposes of this chapter

any activity involving an account set up by a resident of the state or a wager placed by a person

physically located within the boundaries of the state is deemed to have occurred in the state.

     (b) All cases or matters not subject to the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42 (the

administrative procedures act) shall be subject to a Rhode Island state court with appropriate

jurisdiction and such matters shall be determined under the general laws of the state without the

conflict of law provisions therein.

     (c)(1) In exchange and consideration for being granted a license to offer odds and accept

wagers within the state, licensees are subject to the jurisdiction and laws of the state in all matters

related to their dealings with any resident or instrumentality of the state with regards to those

wagers authorized by this chapter.

     (2) For the purposes of protecting the interests of the state and its citizenry, the

jurisdiction of the state extends to the physical location of the place the licensee maintains the

records and other materials required by this chapter to be made available for inspection.

     41-12-39. Settlement of disputes.

     (a) The director shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to establish a

"settlement office" within the department for the purpose of resolving disputes arising between

licensees and bettors in a quick and equitable manner as provided for by rule or regulation.

     (b) The settlement office shall have the further responsibility of tracking, by licensee, the

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complaints made to the office along with a brief description of the type of complaint and a

general description of their resolutions and report the findings at least annually to the general

assembly. After the report is received by the general assembly, the department shall make an

electronic version available on its website to provide consumers with information necessary to

make informed decisions.

     (c) If at the time during processing of complaints, the office becomes aware or has a

reasonable suspicion about the solvency of any licensee through an increased number of

complaints for non­payment, the office shall forward those suspicions immediately to the office

of the attorney general and the general assembly.

     (d) The office shall be funded by the licensee and the positions filled only to the extent

necessary to accomplish the goals herein.

     (e) Nothing shall prohibit a party not satisfied by the resolution proposed by the

settlement office from asserting a right or a claim in a court of proper jurisdiction.

     41-12-40. Duties of attorney general.

     It shall be mandatory upon the attorney general to prosecute all civil and criminal cases

which shall be referred by the director to the attorney general. It shall be the duty of the

department of attorney general to prosecute actions, both civil and criminal, for those violations

of this chapter that come to its knowledge and to independently enforce the provisions of this

chapter.

     41-12-41. Self-exclusion.

     The department shall develop and provide to each licensee a method for persons to

voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling activities and to place their name in a department

maintained register of self-excluded persons.

     SECTION 3. Title 41 of the General Laws entitled "SPORTS, RACING, AND

ATHLETICS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 13

SPORTS BETTING - LOCAL LICENSING

     41-13-1. Local option – Questions put to electors.

     (a) Before a betting parlor may be located in any town or city, the town council of the

town or the city council of the city shall pass a resolution to allow a referendum to be placed on

the ballot at the next general election to be submitted to the qualified electors of the town or city,

the following questions:

     "Shall licenses for the operation of a betting premises as defined in chapter 12 of title 41,

be issued in this town (or city)?"

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     "Shall a retailer's Class B-BP beverage license provided for in § 3-7-7.8, be issued in this

town (or city)?"

     (b) The question shall be submitted by the local board of canvassers to the electors of the

town or city where the facility or activity is to be located, and the results of the election shall be

certified to the secretary of state.

     41-13-2. Local licensing.

     Upon the approval at referendum, any city or town council, the board of police

commissioners, or in the case of the city of Providence, the bureau of licenses, or any other

licensing board or authority in any city or town may, for any term not exceeding one year, issue a

license for a betting parlor to operate within an area in its respective city or town that live

entertainment is allowed by general or special permit.

     (1) Notwithstanding the pre-existence of any license or initial application approval under

§ 41-12-9, each city or town is free to determine which licensee or applicant it grants a license but

may revoke or refuse to renew any such license only upon the grounds that the place presents a

danger to the public health or safety.

     41-13-3. Notice and hearing on licenses.

     (a) In applications for a license to operate a betting parlor before the appropriate city or

town licensing authority, no application shall be taken up until such time that the names and

addresses of principals, key employees and other persons required to submit to a background

check pursuant to § 41-12-12 are provided and made public. No license shall be issued by the city

or town to the corporation unless each officer, director or stockholder is a suitable person to hold

a license within the discretion of the board, body or official to whom application is made.

     (b) Before granting a license to operate a betting parlor, the board, body or official to

whom application for the license is made, shall give notice by advertisement published once a

week for at least two (2) weeks in some newspaper published in the city or town where the

applicant proposes to carry on business, or, if there is no newspaper published in the city or town,

then in some newspaper having a general circulation in the city or town. The advertisement shall

contain the name of the applicant and a description by street and number or other plain

designation of the particular location for which the license is requested. Notice of the application

shall also be given, by mail, to all owners of property within two hundred feet (200') of the place

of business seeking the application. The notice shall be given by the board, body or official to

whom the application is made, and the cost of the application shall be borne by the applicant. The

notices shall state that remonstrants are entitled to be heard before the granting of the license, and

shall name the time and place of the hearing. At the time and place of the hearing, a fair

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opportunity shall be granted the remonstrants to make their objections before acting upon the

application.

     41-13-4. Building inspection as prerequisite to license.

     (a)(1) A license shall not be issued under the provisions of this chapter until the building

to be used for which that license is desired, has been inspected by the inspector of buildings

appointed as provided in title 23 and the inspector has filed with the licensing authorities a

certificate, in writing, showing that the building meets, in all respects, the requirements of title 23,

and is otherwise safe to use for the purpose for which the license is desired; and

     (2) Until the building has also been inspected by the chief of the respective fire

department or their assistants who shall also file with the licensing authorities a certificate, in

writing, showing that the building meets, in all respects, the requirements of the general and

public laws of this state for the protection of life and property against the menace of fire.

     (b) If the building or apparatus does not meet those requirements or is otherwise unsafe,

then the license shall not be issued, and if any license is issued, that license is void.

     (c) The city or town council may fix by ordinance a reasonable fee, related directly to the

cost of the inspection and other departmental operations, the amount of fee to be paid by the

licensee to the inspector for inspections made and that fee shall be paid to the city or town

treasurer for the use of the city or town.

     41-13-5. Obstruction.

     Any person who hinders or obstructs an officer or agent of the city or town from entering

any place mentioned in this chapter is, upon conviction, guilty of obstructing an officer and liable

to the penalty imposed in § 11-32-1.

     41-13-6. Expiration date of license.

     Every license for the operation of a betting parlor shall expire on December 1 after its

issuance.

     41-13-7. Relocation of license.

     The board, body or official responsible for approving the location of a betting parlor

license under this chapter may permit the license to be used at any other place within the limits of

the town or city where the license was granted; provided, that the issuing body shall, before

permitting the change, give notice of the application for the relocation in the same manner as is

provided in this chapter in the case of an original application for the license, and a new bond shall

be given upon the issuance of the license.

     41-13-8. Transfer of license.

     (a) The board, body or official responsible for approving the license shall permit the

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license to be transferred among persons holding an interest in the same license without restriction;

provided, that if the license is intended to be transferred to persons or an entity without an

existing interest in the license, the board shall, before permitting the transfer, give notice of the

application in the same manner as is provided in this chapter in the case of an original application

for the license, and a new bond shall be given upon the issuance of the license.

     (b) In all cases of transfer of license, indebtedness of the licensee incurred in the

operation of the licensed premises shall be paid to or released by an objecting creditor before the

issuing body permits the transfer. In cases of dispute as to the amount of indebtedness, the issuing

body, may, in its discretion, permit the transfer upon statement of the licensee, under oath, that

the claim of indebtedness is disputed and that the statement of dispute is not interposed for the

purpose of inducing transfer of the license. No creditor is allowed to object to the transfer of a

license by a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, assignee for the benefit of creditors, executor,

administrator, and guardian or by any public officer under judicial process. In case of the death of

any licensee, the license becomes part of the personal estate of the deceased, but the interest in

the license shall not pass except as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

     (c) The transfer of a license is contingent upon the full payment of any outstanding debt

owed the state or municipality.

      (d) The transferee of a license assumes all penalties that the license board has imposed

upon the transferor of the license.

     41-13-9. Prohibition against assignment or leasing of license.

     The holder of a license issued pursuant to this title shall not assign, rent, lease or let the

license but may transfer their interest only as provided in §§ 41-12-16(a) and 41-13-9(a).

     SECTION 4. Chapter 44-18 of the General Laws entitled "Sales and Use Taxes -

Liability and Computation" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     44-18-18.2. Local meals and beverage tax - Supplemental.

     (a) There is hereby levied and imposed a two percent (2%) tax upon every purchaser of a

meal and/or beverage from a retailer issued a Class B-BP license as provided for in § 3-7-7.8, in

addition to § 44-18-18.1. The tax shall be paid to the tax administrator by the retailer at the time

and in the manner provided and divided equally between the state and the city or town where the

meals and beverages are delivered.

     (b) All sums received by the division of taxation under this section as taxes, penalties, or

forfeitures, interest, costs of suit, and fines shall be distributed at least quarterly and credited and

paid by the state treasurer to the city or town where the meals and beverages are delivered.

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     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC005892

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO SPORTS, RACING, AND ATHLETICS - SPORTS BETTING

***

     This act would establish the licensing of nine (9) sports betting parlors located at the two

(2) established casinos, within each of the five (5) counties and two (2) for counties with at least

one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) inhabitants. The act would empower the department of

business regulation to issue rules and regulations and the issuance of licenses for wagering at the

sites of the betting parlors and online wagering using electronic means, for licensing and

application fees, licensing of employees, software companies, independent contractors and their

employees, transfers of licenses, collection of fees and taxes with local licensing and the issuance

of a betting parlor liquor license.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005892

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LC005892 - Page 28 of 28